Ever since the recent launch of Outlook.com, a lot of people want to now stick to just one account, which is why they have one basic question in mind; Gmail or Outlook.com, which one is better.

Outlook.com offers several different features that are useful and makes the service go up against the user favorite Gmail. With applications and features including Drive integration, Apps and Google Docs all at one’s disposal, Outlook.com is getting a lot of attention.

So, is it Outlook.com or Gmail? In order to find out which one makes a better choice, read on for more below.

Process Of Signing Up

I don’t think anyone is unfamiliar with the process of signing up on a Gmail account. It’s simple; you go to Gmail.com, enter your details and you are good to go. Setting up an account on Gmail is not a difficult task either.

However, the same is applicable to Outlook.com, where signing up or setting an account is fairly and very simple. All you need to do is to go to the Outlook’s website and sign-in using a Microsoft email account such as Live or Hotmail. You can also create a new account, the choice is yours.

The details that you need to enter are all entered in one page; the process is simple, short and fast. In terms of the sign up process, both are very simple but many people avoid new services because they require users to spend a lot of time on registering for their services but when it comes to Outlook.com, things are very different.

The Design And Setup

If you go to Outlook.com or are already using it, once you are signed in, you will notice that the website has a very simple design. The whole interface or layout per se is extremely simple and easy on the eyes.

The theme of Outlook.com is more like the Metro UI design of Microsoft. It bears a lot of similarity to the design of Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8 but it is rather a stripped version of the actual Windows Phone designs.

The mail folders are aligned on the left hand side which one can easily customize by making a few clicks. Below the mail folders, we have quick views that let you access documents and pictures right away.

You can also add in your Twitter and Facebook account on Outlook.com by making a few clicks. You can do so by simply looking at the tabs on the right hand side of the page that give you the option to do so.

Outlook.com is great in terms of design and setup as it is more about things getting done automatically and overall, it is pretty simple and easy to understand.

On the other hand, in terms of design, Gmail differs from Outlook. Gmail has all the connected services aligned in tabs on the top of the page and you can access any by making a click or two.

The setup and design of Gmail is good enough though if you want to setup a Google+ account via Gmail, you will be required to spend some extra time.

In both Outlook.com and Gmail, you can star mails and categorize them in different folders. However, you cannot search for mails with attachments in Gmail.

Service And Performance

Once you are logged in on either of the two services, you can do different exciting things. For instance, after accessing Outlook.com, you can click on the small arrow next to the logo of Outlook and see a drop down menu with SkyDrive, calendar and people.

Another cool feature about Outlook that I like it that the mail service acts very smartly when it comes to sending and receiving pictures.  When you send a picture, the receiver doesn’t get the large file in their inbox but rather a link is sent to your SkyDrive’s location accompanied by a thumbnail.

Users can either choose to download the original if they want by visiting the link or not. SkyDrive is pretty simple to use. I had previously not used it but I have to admit, using it is very, very simple.

However, the issue with SkyDrive is that once you click on it, the Metro UI disappears and a Windows Live interface shows up but I think that will change pretty soon.

Microsoft has also promised to include Skype to Outlook.com soon, which means your Outlook account will be integrated with Skype. On the other hand, other services such as Calendars is also pretty great; simple to use and easy on the eyes.

Moreover, the actual process of sending an email on Outlook.com is also pretty classy. Outlook.com sticks to the Metro UI when one sends emails and it surely looks pretty cool.

In comparison, Gmail doesn’t have things contained within one browser just as Outlook.com but rather, when you click on services, new tabs and windows open up.

There are different tabs on the browser and you can click on those and open whichever service you want to. Sending an email out in Gmail is also pretty simple; you can attach files and users receive files the same way including pictures. Since Gmail doesn’t work with SkyDrive, bigger sized files are sent and received.

Gmail Or Outlook.com; The Verdict

When it comes to Outlook.com or Gmail, it is truly about one’s preferences as both are very simple to use, with simple and easy on the eyes design and interface.

Both services are prompt and the final choice depends on the end user. I for one prefer Gmail because I have been using it for a long time now but I know others who like Outlook.com over Gmail.

At the end, the choice is yours but both services are great and pretty slick.